Pulse
Pulse compared
As of October 2026 · A comparison of general product categories, not of individual vendors.
You have three realistic ways to organise your self-employment: spreadsheets and templates (Excel, Word, Sheets), classic accounting software, or Pulse. Here is an honest look at where each one is strong — and where Pulse can't (yet) keep up.
| Spreadsheets & templates | Classic accounting software | Pulse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices with correct VAT logic (small business, reverse charge) | ✎ Manual | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| AI check of mandatory details (§14 UStG) before sending | ✗ No | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yesfrom Pro |
| AI assistant that writes quotes, reminders & contracts | ◐ Partly | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yesfrom Pro |
| Time tracking, projects & invoices in one tool | ✗ No | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yes |
| Tax reserve & profit at a glance, live | ✎ Manual | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yesfrom Pro |
| Multilingual & built for several countries | ✎ Manual | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yes |
| DATEV/EÜR export for your tax advisor | ✎ Manual | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yesfrom Starter |
| Permanently free plan | ✓ Yes | ◐ Partly | ✓ Yes |
| Structured e-invoice (XRechnung / ZUGFeRD) | ✗ No | ◐ Partly | ✗ Not yet |
| Automatic bank reconciliation | ✗ No | ◐ Partly | ✗ Not yet |
How to read the table: “Partly” means: depends on the provider or only with extra tools. Individual products may differ. The Pulse column refers to the plan shown (see Pricing).
When are spreadsheets enough?
If you write only a few invoices a month, have only domestic clients and enjoy building things yourself, spreadsheets and templates are free and maximally flexible. They hit their limits once invoices, time, projects and taxes grow together — then you retype the same data several times and have to keep tax logic in your head.
When is classic accounting software the better choice?
If you need bank reconciliation, structured e-invoices (XRechnung/ZUGFeRD) or full double-entry bookkeeping, established accounting tools are the better choice today. Pulse is a business assistant for freelancers — not a general ledger.
What Pulse is built for
- One tool instead of five: invoices, time, projects, taxes, contracts and AI are linked — you enter each piece of information only once.
- AI that knows your business: the assistant works with your real numbers, clients and projects and writes quotes, reminders and contracts (from Pro).
- Built for Europe: tax profiles for several countries, six languages, small-business rule and reverse charge.
- A fair start: a permanently free plan, try Pro free for 14 days, cancel monthly, no credit card to start.
What Pulse can't do yet
- Automatic bank reconciliation (bank connection)
- Structured e-invoicing (XRechnung / ZUGFeRD) — invoices are currently created as PDF
- Direct submission of tax filings to the tax office (e.g. via ELSTER)
- Full double-entry bookkeeping
Pulse also does not replace tax advice: the tax forecast is an estimate, and binding calculations stay with you and your tax advisor.